Sometimes life surprises you

And sometimes it doesn't.  I did eventually go to the firm party last night and it was as awful as I expected it would be.  And before I get accused of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy, I went with a smile on my face and Christmas pudding in my heart.  But as I made the rounds at the party, no one would talk to me.  I got slight smiles of recognition and then saw the backs of people as they turned to their tight-knit little groups and made it clear that I was not welcome to join their circle.  This happened over and over.  Finally I got the message and I left. 

I wasn't the only one who felt this way.  When I left, one of the new secretaries was leaving too and she felt the same way.  And this morning I spoke to the woman who runs the mail room and she said she left right after I did because of the same feeling of exclusion.

Why does work have to be so high school?  I had my annual appraisal yesterday and my boss went on and on saying that everyone likes me and likes working with me.  So why wouldn't anyone talk to me at the party?  I haven't been here as long as some people, but it's been almost a year.  I was never a member of the "in" crowd in high school, but at least people talked to me.

Well, I consoled myself with my bonus this morning, which wasn't as big as I might have hoped but was nothing to sneeze at either.  I ordered 4 tickets so I can take the family to see Spamalot on Broadway in January.

Sometimes life surprises you

And sometimes it doesn't.  I did eventually go to the firm party last night and it was as awful as I expected it would be.  And before I get accused of creating a self-fulfilling prophecy, I went with a smile on my face and Christmas pudding in my heart.  But as I made the rounds at the party, no one would talk to me.  I got slight smiles of recognition and then saw the backs of people as they turned to their tight-knit little groups and made it clear that I was not welcome to join their circle.  This happened over and over.  Finally I got the message and I left. 

I wasn't the only one who felt this way.  When I left, one of the new secretaries was leaving too and she felt the same way.  And this morning I spoke to the woman who runs the mail room and she said she left right after I did because of the same feeling of exclusion.

Why does work have to be so high school?  I had my annual appraisal yesterday and my boss went on and on saying that everyone likes me and likes working with me.  So why wouldn't anyone talk to me at the party?  I haven't been here as long as some people, but it's been almost a year.  I was never a member of the "in" crowd in high school, but at least people talked to me.

Well, I consoled myself with my bonus this morning, which wasn't as big as I might have hoped but was nothing to sneeze at either.  I ordered 4 tickets so I can take the family to see Spamalot on Broadway in January.